The Living Marriages Podcast | Effective Communication, Intimacy, Healthy Habits, Christian Counseling, Christian Parenting

Sex and finances are the two topics that we seem to find ourselves coming back to often because they are two of the largest stress points in any marriage. 
On this episode, we talk about:
Our journey with money and learning what "mammon" is
Exploring Jesus' puzzling parable on money from Luke 16
Learning to see money as a tool for the kingdom that is to be leveraged
Learning to trust God as our Good Shepherd in whom we "lack nothing"
Resources
Read Luke 16 here.
Find our conversation with Bob and Linda Lotich of SeedTime here. 
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you and have the chance to pray with you! Get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com
 
 
 

Research has shown that it can take couples between 2 and 6 years to finally reach out for help from the time they realize they're having trouble in their marriage. We've got one question: why wait so long?
On today's episode we discuss:
the benefits of marriage mentoring and why getting ahead of the problem is healthy
the shame and pressure couples feel when they are having issues that may prevent them from seeking help
why God never meant for us to do our marriages alone
Interested in being mentored or becoming a mentor? The best place is to find someone in your community of faith. FamilyLife, who we work with, provides training for churches to start their own marriage mentoring ministries.
For more information in Canada, please visit: https://familylifecanada.com/mentoring
In the US, please visit: https://www.familylife.com/equip/compassionate-mentoring/
Or please get in touch with us with your questions or prayer requests! info@livingmarriages.com
We'd love to hear from you!

We're so excited to be joined by a new friend, author and marriage coach Dana Che. In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about:
her story of how God raised her up as a marriage coach after infidelity in her marriage
what a "biblical marriage" is and is not
the new book that God laid on her heart and how it's been helping couples encounter him and one another
what hope there is for couples going through "the long middle"
For more information about Dana Che, her coaching offerings and podcast, please visit danache.com
To order her new book "Tried and True: Marriage Advice from 12 Imperfect Biblical Couples"
US listeners click here
Canadian listeners click here 
Next steps
If you'd like to get a hold of us for prayer, encouragement or even with episode ideas, we'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
 
 

Trigger warning: In this episode we share about the loss of a parent.
With increased life expectancy and older first-time parents, the so-called "Sandwich Generation" - people having to care for both young children and aging or ill parents - is growing. Being a part of this generation of care-givers, we have experienced the tremendous pressure and complexity this creates.
On today's episode we share:
our own journey through grief and challenge in walking with a parent suffering from Parkinson's disease and dementia and the death of that parent
the challenges and opportunities of raising young children through this journey
the importance of having your marriage as a safe place during this seasons
We also take time to pray for all who are facing similar pressures and challenges, whatever this season of marriage is bringing you.
Next Steps
If you'd like prayer or to share your story, we'd love to be able to pray with and support you. Please get in touch: info@livingmarriages.com
 

I confess! I (Aaron) love big, radical things! I'm always looking for the "next big idea" that will change our lives and our marriages, the "silver bullet" or "magic formula" that will bring dramatic transformation. However, while we should not discount the big things, I've been learning the ways in which God is inviting us to discover and invest in the small things. When these are done often, with intentionality and care, they will make a big difference in our marriage.
In this episode:
We talk about how "small things" is a kingdom principal that applies to our marriages
We explore the concept of "bids" in relationships as put forward by Dr. John Gottman
We invite you to find the small things that are already happening often in your marriage and discuss where they aren't happening
Resources
A study from Penn State on how the small things make us feel loved:
https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/love-actually-americans-agree-what-makes-people-feel-love
An article from the Gottman Institute on "bids" in relationship:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/marriage-not-big-thing-million-little-things/?
A fun blog from the Gottman Institute on some of the small things couples do for each other:
https://www.gottman.com/blog/small-things-often-ingredients-happy-relationship/
 
Want to share with us some of the small things you do often for each other? Send us a note! info@livingmarriages.com
 

Difference and Drift. These 2 things can be subtle but deadly for our marriages.
Have you discovered some differences with your spouse that have left you discouraged? Do you find yourself drifting further and further apart from your partner?
We're so excited to share our conversation with Braden and Kristin Hafner of Family Life Canada about God's hope for our marriages!
On this episode you'll hear:
Why marriage matters to God and us
How differences and drift can sabotage our marriages
How there is hope and healing in Christ for our marriages
How the small habits can really bring transformation
If you'd like to find out more about Braden and Kristin's work with Family Life Canada (including more information about the weekend getaways) please click here: https://www.familylifecanada.com/
What are some "honeymoon habits" that you and your spouse enjoy? Let us know! info@livingmarriages.com
 

When we use the word "intimacy," our culture (and even our churches) have conditioned us to think of what happens in the bedroom, of sexual intimacy.
While sexual intimacy is an integral part of marriage, it is not the full picture of what God has created us for and invited us into. There is so much more to intimacy and today's episode is meant to get the conversation going on what intimacy in marriage can look like beyond the bedroom.
According to Eric Erickson, intimacy is the potential someone has for connectedness and it hinges on 3 things:
Commitment
Vulnerability
Communication
Two important questions we ask about intimacy in marriage:
Is it safe to love?
Is it safe to be loved?
Resources:
This is a bit of a technical paper (but still very approachable) and is a good look at Erickson's ideas on intimacy:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2733523/#:~:text=As%20such%2C%20Erikson%20emphasized%20three,communicate%20inner%20thoughts%20and%20feelings.
A link to Henri Nouwen's essays on Intimacy:
https://archive.org/details/intimacyessaysin0000nouw
Have questions or need prayer? Get in touch with us: info@livingmarriages.com

This is a first for the Living Marriages Podcast - a rebroadcast of one of our and your favourite episodes! Be encouraged as we re-visit this conversation with our good friend and mentor, Katie Skurja.
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"Shame is the most powerful force on the planet, apart from grace."
Katie Skurja, founder of Imago Dei Ministries, is an internationally recognized inner healing practitioner, spiritual director and marriage counsellor. We were thrilled and honoured that she could join us in this conversation exploring the devastating power of shame in our marriages and the joy and freedom available in Christ's healing work.
Topics we explore include:
What are "shadow vows" and why every couple should do them
God's grace that is available for us to turn into and confront our shame rather than hide it
How, as image bearers of God, we are like "Peanut M&Ms"
When we understand the paradoxes of God, we understand ourselves and our spouses better
What the drama triangle is and how it threatens our marriages
Resources:
For Katie's incredible conversation with children regarding the image of God and "Peanut M&M's", check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVTBnl5iEEg&t=310s
An excellent article on the "Drama Triangle":
https://www.idmin.org/_files/ugd/0d9c11_b989426836064bd3a9dfdfe15fe4e382.pdf
Where to find Katie, her resources and courses:
Imago Dei Ministries - https://www.idmin.org
Companying Center - https://www.companioningcenter.org
Let us know what you think of this conversation! Contact April and Aaron at info@livingmarriages.org

Greetings friends!
When we began the Living Marriages podcast over a year ago, we could never have imagined what a wonderful ride God was inviting us to - one filled with inspiring interviews, challenging conversations and the incredible opportunity to get to know some of you, our listeners.
We felt called from the beginning to offer 2 episodes a week (outside of once-a-week summer episodes) and we soon settled into a rhythm of Tuesday conversations and Thursday reflections and prayers.
Well, God moves us into new seasons and it feels like a new season has arrived for us! As our work with FamilyLife Canada is ramping up and our need for rest becoming more evident, we're making some changes to the podcast. This is our last Thursday Thought episode as we transition to one weekly episode. We will still have times for prayer and reflection in our main episode and offer, from time to time a bonus episode in case it feels like God is calling us to extra reflection and prayer. 
Thank you for sticking with us as we walk into a new season together with God and each other!

Are you feeling hurried, busy beyond what you thought was possible, stripped of joy? Our culture has a solution for you - buy this bathrobe or three of these candles or this SUV to take you to the mountains so you can find the rest you so desperately want and need. 
They have one thing right - we need this rest! But here's what they have wrong - you don't need to buy it. God offers it to you. It's on the first page of the Bible!
Join us for this conversation where we explore:
What Sabbath truly is
What it means to "work from rest" rather than "rest from work"
Why God's heart for Sabbath rest for us today matters more than ever
Why legalism will ruin Sabbath for anybody
Why we need to give ourselves grace as we seek to practice, not perfect Sabbath
Here are a few of the resources we referenced during our conversation:
The Body Teaches The Soul by Justin Whitmel Earley
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren
Next Steps
Do you have some Sabbath practices that work for you? Get in touch so we can share them with our listeners! info@livingmarriages.com
We'd love to pray with you and hear how things are going in your marriage and family as well!